Salerno is a city on the Tyrrhenian Sea in southwestern Italy. It is the capital of the province of the same name. Salerno was an independent Lombard principality in the early Middle Ages. It rose to become a rich and powerful city, owing much of its wealth to its salt mines. Salerno is also home to the world’s oldest medical school, the Schola Medica Salernitana. The city was badly damaged by Allied bombing in World War II, but has since been rebuilt.
Salerno is a busy commercial and transportation center. The city’s industries include shipbuilding, food processing, and the manufacture of textiles, chemicals, and paper. Tourism is also important to the city’s economy. Salerno’s attractions include its fine medieval and Renaissance architecture, its churches, and its museums. The city is also a popular beach resort.